Mayor Eric Adams presented a Key to the City of New York to renowned weatherman, journalist, and best-selling author Al Roker on August 23, recognizing his significant contributions to broadcast journalism.
Roker, known to many as “America’s weatherman,” has spent nearly three decades on NBC’s “TODAY” show, providing audiences with updates on weather, breaking news, trends, and major global events such as the Olympics and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
“For more than 40 years, Al Roker has been a morning institution in the households of New Yorkers and Americans across the nation,” Mayor Adams said. “Al’s winning smile, infectious energy, and go-getter attitude have been how TODAY’S millions of viewers a week start their day. A child of Queens, Al worked his way up the ranks to become the defining weatherman of his generation, leaping from local broadcast news and into living rooms across the country. We have spent everything from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades to Olympics to generation defining breaking news together with Al. Today, we celebrate an iconic New Yorker who taught us ‘what’s happening in our neck of the woods.’ I’m honored to deliver the Key to the City to ‘America’s weatherman’ — Al Roker.”
In response, Roker expressed his gratitude to the honor received.
“I never imagined a kid from Queens would be receiving a Key to the City of New York,” Roker said. “This is really special. I love this city and grew up here with my dad working as a New York City bus driver in Brooklyn. I’m so very blessed and lucky.”
Roker, a Queens native, began his career as a weather anchor in Syracuse before joining NBC’s “TODAY,” where he has been a fixture for nearly 30 years. He has earned numerous accolades, including 14 Emmy Awards. As CEO and founder of Al Roker Entertainment, Roker has expanded into television production, social media, and digital content. His ventures include critically acclaimed PBS specials, a successful travel series, and several cookbooks.
The Key to the City of New York, first awarded in 1702, symbolizes the city’s wish for guests to come and go freely. Today, it serves as a mark of civic recognition for those whose contributions to the public good reach the highest levels of achievement.
Roker continues to engage with millions of viewers each week through his role on “TODAY,” while also pursuing entrepreneurial ventures and maintaining a strong presence in the media with his website and various projects.
